Is it phlegm or gunk from my treatment

Hi Lillian Lymphodema is quite common there’s exercises your hospital should give you to do as well. Many have dedicated lymphodema clinics please ask. I know  in Danis blog she’s some exercises just check with your team that you’re ok to do them. It’s a build up of fluid from radiotherapy our lymph nodes tske a battering . Am sure Dani will pop on with her advice later 
hugs Hazel. 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari

speak with your cancer nurse. 

I have read both yours and Dani’s blogs from beginning to end and they have been a good source of help for me and still are. It is worse on a morning I suppose because it settles on a night when you are sleeping.  I will be speaking to my MacMillan nurse tomorrow so I can have a chat to her about it and see what she thinks.  Thanks again for being here for me, Lillian x

Yep. So common. I had that. Lots of swallow exercises especially the forced swallow really sorted that out in a couple of weeks. 

Durhamlady said:

in my throat. 

PS. I presume inside of course. In the mornings I had no voice till I got going with swallowing. 
If you mean neck then that’s easily sorted with gentle striking massage but do check with your team. 

Hi Lillian Amy time weve all been there read the book got the t shirt. We’re up in the borders at minute I waved to you as we passed Durham on Saturday, will do the same when we pass this Saturday. Us head and neck patients stick together. 
hugs Hazel x

I've been seeing a kinesiologist for a while now, she's been remarkably good.  I still have, 7 months post treatment, swelling around my neck plus an inability to swallow.  I have a RIG/pump feeding regime because because I've lost 3.5stone (every cloud!!!!)  She suggested using hemp oil either by itself or in a base cream and massaging it into your my neck, and violet/red laser lights help it to go deeper into the muscles. You can buy these on Amazon.    The swelling has reduced and its made my neck less stiff. She also suggested rubbing in Vick, which helped overnight.    She also suggested a high dose zinc and magnesium supplement which again I believe has helped.  I had a blood test done privately and its confirmed a massive depletion in most vits. I am now on a high dose, Vitabiotics are fine and reasonably priced, of B6 complex, magnesium, selenium, Vit D. I've taken them for about 6 weeks now and my levels have only just started to come up. I'm hoping the Mg will help restore my taste, apparently that can be a  very lengthy process.  I think we forgetnthatbthecRT destroys just about everything and it's all needs rebalanced.  I do firmly believe the hempmoil has done wonders, it is  inflammatory and reduces swelling.   Good luck to you, we all need it!!!!

so do I literally just rub the vick on thee swelling on my neck at night time? I am even struggling to swallow some of my pills. I had a phone call from my speech and language therapist last night and she has made me an appointment for 2weeks time to to put me at all.  
I am up for trying anything that is going to help me.  Well I am off for my morning walk around the block which isn’t very far but it gets me out of the house and a bit of exercise. 

Thank you so much for the chat and the advice I will be giving it a go.  
Lillian xx

Half of that got missed of she is going to put the tube up my nose and down my throat and wants me to eat and drink while it is in   Good luck with that xxx

I know I am a pain Hazel but I am really struggling with eating and I know I need to eat to build my strength up. I don’t know if it physcalogical or what it is but I am so weak and tired and depressed all the time. My mouth and throat are so dry I am just afraid that it I try to eat anything that it will stick.  
Any advice or suggestions you have would be really helpful, I am sick of hearing myself moaning and complaining and I know I need to sort myself out. I can manage custard and semolina but even porridge seems to stick, I am at the end of my tether!!!!

1. Lillian xx

Hi Lilian you aren’t a pain we’ve all been there . I used to drink warm herbal tea to wash it down in fact often I still do. I’ve just had hime made soup with a cheese sandwich. I can eat a sandwich but on occasion still need warm drink to help it in its way. There’s no rhyme nor reason as I can also eat a cream cracker and cheese without anything to wash it down. . Bread is hard well buttered toast with a poached egg was one if my staples. Followed by an ensure drink. Porridge I used to make it extra runny or try ready  break that’s smoother. Do you always have water or a spray bottle with you? It’s early days for you treatments brutal and recovery long. Gravy and sauces eg cheese sauce parsley sauce will become your best friends. I’ll pop the link on for one of the cook books. Plus do you have a blender ? Try smoothies to ensure yiu get enough calories using an ensure or fortisip. As for depression it’s nit unusual for head and neck cancer patients to have a mild course if anti depressants there’s quite a few in here who did. Don’t think it’s a bad thing it’s not. 
hugs H 

 Liquid diet ideas 

www.yumpu.com/.../cookbook-by-andrew-gaylor-head-and-neck-cancer-survivor-2022